Pocket New - February 3, 2017 by Valley Community Newspapers

February 3, 2017 | www.valcomnews.com

Pock e t News — Bringing you community news for 26 years —

CELEBRATING YEAR OF THE

ROOSTER IN THE POCKET

SEE PAGE 5

For the love of nature:

Faces and Places..........................................2

Faces and Places:

From your Councilman..............................17

9th Annual Mochi Madness

Home Improvement................................ 18 Classifieds. ................................................. 19 What’s Happening..................................... 20

See page 22

See page 2

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9th Annual Florin Mochi Madness: The Florin Japanese American Citizens League Photos by George Young

Nick LaPlaca 764-7500

A fun, taste-tempting Japanese American New Year’s tradition greeted friends and families at Florin’s “Mochi Madness IX” which featured a Hand-Pounding Workshop, Treat Tasting, and New Year’s Potluck on Sunday, Jan. 8 at the Buddhist Church of Florin. Despite the pouring rain and insane wind that day, folks enjoyed the sweet rice cakes that are popular in Asian countires. Mochi symbolizes strength and a prosperous New Year, according to the press release. Volunteers made the dessert “old school” like families on the farm, pounding with huge wooden mallets (kine) in a stone mortar (usu) after cooking in wooden steamers (seiro).

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Pocket News

w w w. va l c o m n e w s . c o m E-mail stories & photos to: editor@valcomnews.com Pocket News is published on the first and third Fridays of the month in the area bounded by Interstate 5 on the east and the Sacramento River on the north, west, and south. Publisher...................................................................David Herburger Editor............................................................................... Monica Stark

Vol. XXVI • No. 3 2709 Riverside Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95818 t: (916) 429-9901 f: (916) 429-9906

Art Director.......................................................................John Ochoa Graphic Designer..................................................Annin Greenhalgh Advertising Director................................................... Jim O’Donnell Advertising Executives: Melissa Andrews, Steve Crowley, Linda Pohl Copyright 2017 by Valley Community Newspapers Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Pocket News • February 3, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

Cover photo by: Mira Costa Community College Other photos: George Young Michelle Townsend

2017

The Year Of The Rooster

Come Join us at Greenhaven Estates and be part of our life long learning series as we host our very own Chinese New Year's celebration on February 11, 2017 at 5:30pm. We will be celebrating a year of hard work, having good rest, and relaxing with family. Enjoy complimentary Chinese cuisine and the amazing live entertainment. Hope to see you there. Space is limited

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www.sacprep.org www.valcomnews.com • February 3, 2017 • Pocket News

Sacramento City Unified School District holds job fair to hire school support staff Sacramento City Unified School District is hosting a job fair to fill classified positions such as bus drivers, food service assistants, and custodians on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the district headquarters. Other available jobs covered by the fair include instructional aides in special education and child development, library media tech assistants and various substitute positions. Part-time and full-time jobs are available. Job candidates will need to “dress

to impress,” and bring their resumes, identification and Social Security cards. Applicants should be prepared for onthe-spot interviews and job offers. Job seekers are encouraged to complete an online application beforehand at www. scusd.edu/employment, but computer assistance will be available at the fair. District headquarters at the Serna Center is located at 5735 47th Ave. in Sacramento. For more information call 916-643-9050.

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All dogs don’t go to Kennedy By Aaron Soliz Clarion Staff

The Dog Lovers Club was scheduled to bring dogs to Kennedy on Friday, January 20th after school in front of the auditorium. The club had the intention of relieving students of their stress, right before finals and the end of the first semester. Dogs are known to positively impact humans by raising the levels of oxytocin, one of the hormones responsible for decreasing stress, in the bloodstream. Other benefits that can come from being around dogs include a decrease in blood pressure as well as a contagious feeling of relief and joy. By interacting with dogs, students can calm their nerves just in time for stress inducing finals. Unfortunately, the dogs were nowhere to be found, likely due to unfavorable weather conditions. The absence of the dogs did not go unnoticed by the other students. The students were, for the most part, understanding of the situation. Junior student Makenzie Cross commented, “I was ready to be stress free but I understand why they couldn’t come so I was okay. Plus I have a dog at home.” Another student, Wing Cheng, remarked, “I was disappointed the dogs didn’t show up because I went last year and it really helped me distress but I understand that it would have been inconvenient to have the owners bring the dogs in the rain.” Some, however, were not so saddened. “I’m allergic to dogs, so it doesn’t affect me,” Lauren Cortez told The Clarion. This article was reprinted with permission from The Clarion, John F. Kennedy High School’s student newspaper. Staff writer Aaron Soliz added more quotes for this Pocket News version of the story.

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Celebrating Chinese New Year in the Pocket

Gung Hay Fat Choy by Leigh Stephens

Those born in the Year of the Rooster: you are truthful, loyal and people trust you because you stand up for what is right, and you can keep secrets. You don’t care much for wealth, but you seem to have enough. Passion for the Chinese culture shows in every corner of Elizabeth Wong’s home. To celebrate the Chinese New Year, she demonstrates the symbols that bring to life customs and traditions that she thinks are slipping away. She describes her home in the Pocket area as a mini-museum. Her front door is adorned with red banners, her entry hallway is lined with displays of the 12 zodiac animals; the red monkey (2016) and the fire rooster that is the 2017 animal of the year sit together in friendship. In her entry hallway Elizabeth has hung posters of the rooster design over the Chinese drum as well as one of the U.S. postage stamp, celebrating the year of the rooster. Two lions sit guarding the room. A precious antique showcase houses family treasures from Wong’s Chinese ancestral home. One a beautiful bowl that her grandfather made and the ancient lock from the family home dwell in the case with other irreplaceable odds and ends. She says the key word is “respect” for the culture that she fears is fading with each generation. Elizabeth Wong is a bundle of energy as she explains her motivation for reminding the Chinese-Americans that their inherited culture is just as important as the country in which they live today. She says, Everyone can at least learn their Chinese names, symbols and numbers.” This interesting woman was born in San Francisco in the Chinatown Hospital. Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

She says, “I live with a foot in each world.” She worked for many years as a single mother, dental hygienist and nurse practitioner to support her two children who are now grown. Her daughter Jasmine is a dancer who trained with the San Francisco Ballet, and son Benjamin is a pharmacist. Elizabeth says she went to public schools in Vallejo and went on for additional training through Sacramento City College, U.C. Davis, and the University of the Pacific, earning her credentials in dental hygiene. Elizabeth in retirement now says she considers herself a Chinese community historian to honor the Chinese heritage. When asked why this is so important she says, “China is the number two powerhouse in the world and so intertwined with the United States. There is global interest in all ‘things Chinese’ now because of China’s influence on ours and other countries. Additionally we need to nurture our customs and bridge the learning gap for the next generation.” The Chinese New Year is just one day, says Wong. The “new” Chinese celebrate it for about a month and call it “Spring Festival.” It is a time of good foods-feasting and family togetherness. The greeting, Gung Hay Fat Choy, means “good fortune and great happiness.” Tradition says the new year is a time to clean house, buy new clothes and make a fresh start on endeavors. This rids the life of old spirits and makes way for a new year. Cleaning sweeps away ill fortune and clears the way for incoming good luck. All senses are celebrated with lion and dragon dances, fireworks, and lucky money red envelopes given and received. The Year of the Rooster is the tenth animal in the zodi-

ac cycle and always comes after the Monkey year and before the Dog year. The next rooster year will come around again in 2029. Each year is associated not only with an animal sign, but also with five elements: gold (metal), wood, water, fire, or earth. These element-sign combinations reoccur every 60 years. 2017 brings in the Fire Rooster year. Both the zodiac sign and element are believed to affect one’s personality and destiny. Those born in 2017 are supposed to be trustworthy and with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility at work. The auspicious colors are royal purple, blue tones and burgundy. Lucky crystals are amethyst, which affects dreams and psychic awareness and topaz for inspiration. The year’s flower is the chrysanthemum. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophical system used to bring harmony into the surrounding environment. It is supposed to encourage mystical energies that encourage protection and a sense of peace for that environment. These principles were used in ancient time and modern for decorating and architecture before beginning any project. Westerners today find interior decorators embracing feng shui when they decorate homes, offices, and public spaces. For example, it is unlucky to have a stairway opening right at the front door because money will flow right out the door! Elizabeth Wong has many achievements within her lifetime. She is the founder of the Asian Cultural Ex-

change and has facilitated numerous public events and travel talks that honor the Chinese Culture. She was involved with “Asia Day” at the California State Fair in 2008, contacting local Asian newscasters who hosted the day and publicized the Olympics being held that year in Beijing.

Through the years, she has helped create small new years’ parties at schools, homes and public places such as the one in Old Sacramento in the 1980’s, which drew a crowd of 15,000 people. She has led programs at the Sacramento Zoo, Crocker Art Museum, See Chinese New Year, page 15

www.valcomnews.com • February 3, 2017 • Pocket News

In memory of Mrs. Raj, Sr. In memory of Mrs. RamAdhari-Raj, the middle son invited three generations of the family to celebrate her life accomplishments on December 9, 2016. It was a sunny afternoon and the crisp wind invigorated everyone. Close to thirty family members enjoyed a tea that was hosted by ACC Senior Services. “She left a beautiful legacy to her children through her hard work and maternal ways, and a generous legacy to enable future elders who might need care at ACC,” said Satendra Raj, the eldest son who gathered everyone. “Mom was born in Nasinu, Fiji on June 11, 1932. She got married in 1948 to Deo Raj. Deo came to America (California) in 1958 so mom took care of their six children alone in Fiji. Food was scarce and we basically were very poor. I remember eating rice and greens all the time at home (which she grew) in Fiji. She would wrap greens in tortillas for us to take to school. I really don’t remember eating any meat in Fiji.” “She came to America (Williams, California) in 1963 with all her children. Dad used to have a crew that worked in the fields in Colusa county thinning sugar beets,

tomatoes and picking fruits (prunes, walnuts, peaches, oranges). For over a decade she would rise with the sun to help us work the fields, feed all of her kids breakfast and lunch, and go home to feed us dinner often being the last one in bed, finishing only after the dishes were clean,” he continued as others shared their recollections. Before 1974 the family lived in several rented homes. In 1974 they moved to a brand new 3,000 square foot home on 30 acres. “Mom loved this house because Dad built it especially for her. She loved showing off her new home to other families and friends. We had parties at this house almost every weekend. She would cook for an army during these gatherings. She planted a vegetable garden every year on the property. She would grow different kinds of beans (black eye, crowder, guar and long string beans) and different kinds of vegetables (okra, tomatoes, opoe, and cucumbers). She would grow enough vegetables to practically feed the whole town of Williams” added daughter Urmila Kumar and sons Suresh Raj and Hira Raj. “When friends came to visit she would give

them lots of vegetables to take home even though their bellies were already full with the food she would serve them. She had the biggest deep freezer you could buy and froze lots of vegetables for the winter, most often giving away frozen vegetables to friends and families who came to her house in the fall and winter months,” they continued. “Dad died in 1990 and Mom did prayer according to her religious tradition (i.e. a 13-day prayer meeting at the house). That same year she also went to Fiji and did a prayer in the old church that Dad helped build. She was a very religious person and became a vegetarian. In 2001 she had major heart surgery and the doctor replaced a mitral valve that was leaking with a pig mitral valve. I used to tease her that now you are not vegetarian anymore because you have a pig inside you,” continued Satendra Raj. “Of course,

she would laugh about it. Doctors said after ten years you will need to replace the valve again. So in 2010 she had another heart valve surgery and never totally recovered. She was in a coma for several months and then went peacefully to meet her husband in 2010.” Before she died, Mrs. Raj wrote a will stipulating her wishes. In the will, she wanted to build a church or an adult daycare facility from the sale of her property and assets. She saw some of her friends in an adult home facility that impressed her. Since there wasn’t enough money to build something, the probate courts decided a donation to a church and an adult daycare facility would fulfill her wishes. The family selected several churches and ACC because of our family’s positive experiences with their day program and caregiver services. “We deeply appreciate the family’s donation to our capital

campaign that enabled the main hall at the ACC building at 7375 Park City to be named in recognition of the Raj Family”, said Linda Revilla, ACC Program Manager. “Funds were also used for the Bridge to Healthy Families respite scholarship program in memory of Mrs. Raj. Twenty-five families have benefited from the scholarship to date”, she continued. “Our family is proud of the legacy recognizing my Mom and Dad” concluded Satendra Raj. Several families in turn told stories that helped family members recall the generosity and graciousness of Mrs. Raj. A new singing group lifted everyone’s spirits with their performance and the celebration of life concluded with a walk across the street to see the new artwork recognizing the gift in support of the capital campaign which has supported the development of assisted living, the improvements to open the new ACC Campus where the artwork is installed, and that will support the transformation of the ACC Care Center in coming years. For more information on our Capital Campaign at ACC Senior Services please contact the Fund Development Office at 394-6399 and visit their website at www.accsv.org.

Pocket News • February 3, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Sacramento publisher, Pocket resident launches new statewide LGBT publication By Bonnie Osborne

Fred Palmer has been a tireless advocate for equal rights for LGBT people and for other marginalized communities for decades. He is one of a handful of local business owners who founded the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce some 15 years ago. He has served on the boards of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center; WEAVE, which supports victims of domestic violence; and Wells Fargo’s community advisory board. He created Sacramento’s monthly Drag Queen Bingo charity fundraising events, raising more than $100,000 for local non-profit organizations before handing over the reins to the Rainbow Chamber in 2015. And in 2013, when federal courts overturned California’s anti-equality ballot measure Proposition 8, he launched the Sacramento LGBT Wedding Expo, a vendor fair that both celebrated the right of LGBT people to marry and offered local businesses an opportunity to benefit from the ensuing “gay wedding boom.” Last but not least, Palmer is creator and publisher of Outword Magazine, a biweekly print publication featuring news and information targeted to the region’s LGBT readers now in its 22nd year. Then the election of 2016 happened. Like millions of other Americans, Palmer suddenly feared that the progressive values and civil rights advances he had worked so long and hard for would be threatened. After many sleepless nights, he arrived at a course of action that would allow him to harness his talents and experience to make a difference and help counter the epidemic of falsehoods and“fake news” that continues to plague the U.S. political landscape: He would start a new magazine. “I thought, ‘I have to do something. What can I do?’” Palmer recalls of his epiphany. “And I realized that what I know how to do is publish an LGBT magazine.” Debuting January 4, 2017, the online publication Outword California expanded Sacramento-based Outword Magazine’s reach statewide. Its editorial focus will be to inform LGBT Californians, and those interested in visiting the GoldValley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Inaugural issue cover – Outword California

en State, about the attractions, activities, events, natural beauty and people that make it such a special place—and to provide a forum where LGBT people can find accurate news and information about the issues impacting their lives. It also will provide an advertising platform for companies seeking access to the purchasing power of the LGBT market, estimated at $917 billion nationally. “As a publisher and a gay business owner, I have always encouraged the LGBT community not to boycott those companies that oppose equality, but to support and patronize those companies that support our community,” Palmer said. “Harnessing the power of our LGBT dollars is one of the most important things we can do to promote equality. Fortune 500 corporations recognize the economic clout of our community—and they have been among our staunchest allies in adopting same-sex partner benefits, protesting discriminatory laws, and including LGBT companies in their supplier diversity programs.” As is true of Outword Magazine locally, Outword California will support LGBT and other non-profit organizations throughout the state with sponsored promotions and ads, Palmer said. One of its initial alliances has been with the

Golden Gate Business Association, San Francisco’s LGBT chamber of commerce. Election aside, the timing also was right for a new LGBT publication. “We have lost so many of our LGBT publications in recent years,” Palmer said, citing the closure of Los Angeles’s venerable Frontiers Magazine as a recent example. “Our LGBT media is under the same pressures as other print media—advertising revenue has dwindled, and more readers are consuming news online rather than going to the newsstand. For the LGBT community, it means the loss of credible sources that are dedicated to providing the information and resources we need and care about. I hope that Outword California will help to fill that gap.” With a goal to showcase some of the state’s less-traveled attractions, the cover story for the first issue of Outword California was about Autocamp’s Airstream trailer park “hotel” located in bucolic Guerneville on the Russian River. The town is already well known as an LGBT-friendly getaway for Northern Californians and as the site of several annual men’s and women’s festivals. Outword California’s premier issue also featured articles on samesex weddings, on the prospects for same-sex marriage under a

Peter Milinazzo and Fred Palmer

Trump administration, on the wave of celebrities who came out in 2016, and on the tragic losses of actresses Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. The February edition of the online magazine will feature a profile of PBS station KVIETV’s Rob Stewart of the station’s popular“Rob on the Road” show, which is in the process of taking its “California explorer” theme statewide as well. Palmer, who resides in the Greenhaven-Pocket neighborhood with spouse Peter Milinazzo, has lived in Sacramento since graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in organizational communications. He began his career in corporate communications, as vice president of marketing for ICG Communications and as a regional marketer for MCI Communications. As publisher and CEO of Outword Media Marketing Events he has provided fundraising and sponsorship services for numerous Sacramento organizations and events, including the Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Sacramento Pride, PFLAG, Davis Pride, NorCal AIDS Cycle and WEAVE. In 2007 he was named Sacramento News & Review’s Best Local Political Activist.

For more information about Outword California or to read the current issue, visit OutwordCalifornia.com.

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www.valcomnews.com • February 3, 2017 • Pocket News

Sacramento Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March to the Capitol By Leigh Stephens

In 1958, with my new college degree in hand, I, with my new husband, interviewed for a high school teaching position in Macon, Georgia. My husband was offered $3,500 a year, and I was offered $3,000. The school official told me I would receive less money because I was a woman and would probably teach for a while and then retire to home to raise our children. In my youthful ignorance, having been raised a proper â&#x20AC;&#x153;Southern girl,â&#x20AC;? I accepted his remarks as a given. This was my first professional job offer. Not until years later did this negative incident soak into my rebel soul and with the wisdom of experience form the core of my beliefs that women are just as valuable as men. -Leigh Stephens The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March to the Capitol on Saturday, January 22nd was an historic event for Sacramento. According to the Sacramento Police Department, approximately 20,000 people marched through the streets to express their support to save the social programs brought about by the Obama Administration. Women, men and children participated in the march. A bright pink sea of â&#x20AC;&#x153;pussyhatsâ&#x20AC;? covered hundreds of heads in the teaming crowd. Under the threat of the proposed changes under the Trump Administration, people are coming together to express their displeasure. Although some of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marches were anti-Trump, the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marches are energizing women to run for office and encouraging women to express their displeasure at program cuts that benefit women. Many womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organizations throughout Sacramento and surrounding communities participated in the event. Marching began from various locations about 9:30 a.m., while the rally in front of the Capitol began at noon and lasted to 6:30 p.m. Community activists, dignitaries, and entertainers spoke and performed throughout the afternoon.

Women march organizers affirm, Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rights are Human Rights: Photo by George Young â&#x20AC;˘ End violence against our bodies. An estimated 20,000 people marched to the State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 21. in unity with the â&#x20AC;˘ Reproductive rights belong to National March on the same day in Washington, DC and other cities worldwide. The march drew women. solidarity with â&#x20AC;&#x153;our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and â&#x20AC;˘ Free our society from gender norms, our families -- recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country,â&#x20AC;? expectations, and stereotypes. according to the announcement of the march. â&#x20AC;˘ Civil rights are a birthright, including voting rights, freedom of speech, and pro- â&#x20AC;˘ Rooted in the promise of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The environment must be protecttection for all citizens regardless of race, call for â&#x20AC;&#x153;huddled masses yearning to ed, not exploited by greed, especialgender, age or disability. It is time for an breathe free,â&#x20AC;? immigrants and refuly at the risk of public safety and all-inclusive Equal Rights Amendment gees have rights regardless of status or health. to the United States Constitution. country. Migration is a human right â&#x20AC;˘ Pay equity means equal pay for equal â&#x20AC;˘ Include disability rights. Break barriand no human being is illegal. work. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work earns 79 cents ers to access, inclusion, independence, â&#x20AC;˘ Support environmental rights. Peoto menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $1. and full citizenship participation in ple have the right to clean water, our society. clean air, and access to public lands. See Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March, page 9

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Nancy McCabe, president of the Sacramento American Association of University Women (AAUW) said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This march is a powerful time for women and men to come together to express our concerns about the direction government is taking on issues affecting women and girls. AAUW is committed to empowering women and being a leader in equity and education in critical areas impacting the lives of women and girls. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let progress that has been made in education, pay equity, reproductive healthcare, and LGBT rights slip away. There is more to be done without having to revisit the issues that we thought were settled. I am gratified at the community involvement in this march!â&#x20AC;? The Sacramento March was one of more than 600 sister-marches throughout the United States, planned to coincide with the Washington D.C. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March on January 21 where more than one-half million people marched on the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capitol. According to march organizers, the guiding principles are: â&#x20AC;&#x153; We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families â&#x20AC;&#x201C; recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.â&#x20AC;?

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Women’s March: Continued from page 8

VOICES FROM THE MARCH: Ginny McReyolds, Retired Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Cosumnes River College: “It was wonderful to participate in this march. It was so heartening to see how many people – women, men and kids are simply not going to stand for the bullying and disregard for humanity that seems to be the standard for this new administration.” Sue Ingle from her wheelchair: “I’m at the march to support women’s rights and those of the disabled. I was so upset when Trump made fun of the disabled journalist!” Sharon Vintze (helping Sue Ingle with her wheelchair): “I’m here to support the voices for decency and for women’s rights.” Young mother Isabel Damian holding 18-month old Alia : “I’m at the march to represent women and to take a stand for public breastfeeding. This is Alia’s first march!” Alia’s dad was with them, supporting his wife and daughter.

Ruth Burgess: “It was the inspiring and touching message of an 11-yearold girl named Kennedy who received a National Women’s March honor. This little girl put in the simplest terms what the march was about. She said from the time she was younger, Karen Knicriem : “I’m here to support her parents and teachers taught her to women’s and elderly programs.” She car- be kind to others and not say mean ried a sign that read, “Keep Your Hands things to hurt other people’s feelings. Off Obama Care.” She said it upset her to hear the things said during the presidential election.” Two sisters from Elk Grove, Darcie Gore and Denise Sismeroz along with Retired CSUS professor Dr. VirDarcie’s husband rode light rail up to ginia Kidd: “I was 14 before womthe Capitol. Darcie: “I’m for all rights en were even allowed to serve on and not for eroding those in place.” She juries in Texas where I grew up. In carried a sign,“Our Rights are not up for this march I wore my 1966 Equal Grabs and Neither are we!” Rights Amendment necklace. I think we have made progress, and Denise: “I don’t want to have to go back we will progress more with the kind to the 1950’s. I’m doing this for my of support we have with the marchdaughter and my granddaughter.” es. It’s wonderful!”

Photos by George Young

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www.valcomnews.com • February 3, 2017 • Pocket News

King of Jazz

Restored by NBC/Universal, premiering at Tower Theatre for benefit gala By Matías Bombal

In 1930, an unprecedented mixture of art and technology melded elements of music, dance, theatre, design and visual artistry into a great melting pot of jazz on film. The movies had only been “talking” for three years. Sound for movies was new, so was an early Technicolor company process of taking movie camera images through red and green filters and reproducing almost all colors of the spectrum for color on screen. Added to this canvas of color and sound; music of all forms offered by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra, comedy blackouts from famous vaudeville stars, dancers in impressive Broadway type choreographies staged by director John Murray Anderson and sets lavish in art-moderne design which would win an Academy Award. Universal Pictures released “King of Jazz” at FOX’s 1,652 seat Criterion Theatre in Los Angeles on April 19, 1930. The film vanished somewhat into obscurity, after a second, shorter version re-re-

lease in 1933. In 1975 a television screening by the BBC reawakened interest in the movie, followed by versions for U.S. TV Cable channels in March of 1984. This was a truncated version, far from the splendor and beauty of the original release. MCA then released it to home video in 1983 and 1995 on VHS, but a video engineer mixed blue into the picture, destroying the two-color process’s original beauty and design and red-green color balance. It has not since been in any other format to be seen in any version. After years of lobbying from film historians such as David Stenn, Ron Hutchinson and others, in December of 2013, the film was officially entered into The Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, triggering Universal Pictures to begin a serious and monumentally expensive restoration of more than three years. At the same time, a remarkable and scholarly 303 page coffee table book about the movie’s colorful history and restoration, “King of Jazz: Paul

Whiteman’s Technicolor Review” was written and released by James Layton and David Pierce. (www.kingofjazzbook. com) The 2016 restoration, by NBC/Universal, of the 1930 two-color Technicolor Universal Super-Production “King of Jazz” has created a sensation everywhere it is shown. Beginning a few months ago with the Museum of Modern Art New York, then The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles, this early musical movie has begun to move across the United States and Europe in select road-show events and special film festivals, like Los Angeles’ Cinecon and screenings as far away as Australia. It will be shown in Sacramento for its Northern California Premiere for one showing only, to benefit The Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, February 22nd at 7pm at the Tower Theatre at 16th and Broadway, nestled at the south end of downtown. The premiere will bring notable persons from Hollywood and New York to Sacramento, including historians, Universal Studios executives and musicians as this has not screened in the San Francisco/ bay area as the state capital was chosen for the honor. Why is it a big deal? Primarily because it captures exactly the best in entertainment in 1930 in a time capsule, now clearer, sharper and brighter than when it was new. The newly restored two-color Technicolor allows you to witness, with a palpable vibrancy, an era mostly seen today in black and white,

if at all. Then there’s the music; along with some hot jazz renditions of tunes like “Happy Feet” written by Milton Ager with lyric by Jack Yellen, this film has the first ever performance on film of “The Rhapsody in Blue” by the man and his orchestra that commissioned George Gershwin to write it for them, Paul Whiteman. Paul Whiteman was, without a doubt, the single most respected influence in the mainstream culture of emerging popular music and jazz in the United States in the 1920’s and early 1930’s. His acoustical Victor 78 rpm record of “Whispering” recorded on August 23, 1920 was a number one hit in the USA for 11 weeks, stayed 20 weeks in the charts and would sell over two-million copies. He made a hit record and created one of the nation’s first major dance crazes with his May 7, 1925 Victor recording of (the)”Charleston”. He represented the zenith of jazz to the public of that era. He also was a brilliant and willing master of publicity and marketing. During his orchestra’s 1919 engagement at the Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles, popular with the movie crowd, he first began to be informally known as “The King of Jazz”. By 1930, Universal’s “King of Jazz” film could be shown to many thousands more than could see him and his orchestra in live performance in just one theatre or ballroom at a time and it showcases his very likeable personality and big-hearted presence. Whiteman’s orchestra personnel seen in this film and

in color performing were and remain the who’s who of jazz greats of that era. They include: violinist Joe Venuti, guitarist Eddie Lang, saxophonist Roy Maier, violinist and song writer Matty Malneck, trombonist and violinist Wilbur Hall, trumpet player Harry “Goldie” Goldfield, clarinet and saxophone player Chester Hazlett, trombone player, vocalist and songwriter Jack Fulton, banjo player Mike Pingitore, pianist and songwriter Roy Bargy, violinist Kurt Dieterle and the very first movie appearance of Bing Crosby, then part of Whitman’s singing trio, “The Rhythm Boys”. To see and hear 27 year-old Bing Crosby at the height of his voice, singing with the trio is something you’ll long remember. Actors seen in the film’s comedy sketches and other musical numbers include John Boles, Slim Summerville, Laura La Plante and a very young Walter Brennan. Jazz plays a great role in the movie, but it is also a product of its time when revue style shows on Broadway were popular, the kind of show that is a series of variety comedy acts, musical specialties and musical productions. Very much like one may have experienced in New York in 1930 at any of the deluxe musical theatres of that era, yet much more spectacular with all of the space of a movie studio in which to produce giant musical fantasy numbers and in the early twocolor Technicolor process that predates “The Wizard of Oz” See Jazz, page 11

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Jazz:

Continued from page 10

and “Gone with the Wind”. The Russell Markert girls that appear as chorines in this film would, just two years later, become the very first Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in 1932. I had the privilege to have seen this new restoration in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theatre as part of the 52nd Cinecon Film Festival a few months ago. Like many film buffs my age, I first had seen the film in one of the VHS tape versions, in the mid 1980’s, which even then looked dismal, like a beat up 16mm film print poorly transferred. In spite of the mire and murk of the image, I was fascinated by what I saw and heard. Here was a slice of the best in entertainment preserved in a time capsule. I’d never seen anything like it. It fueled a passion to see it properly restored, marking 33 years of anticipation and hope to see it as it had been seen when new. Quite sincerely, to have seen it, as if for the first time after all those years was highly emotional, for there were tears of joy in my eyes as I watched its sensational beauty of picture and sound. As I sat there next to my pal and marvelous pianist/historian Frederick Hodges in the Egyptian Theatre, things I never thought could be captured were right there before my eyes. In the “My Bridal Veil” number, a fly buzzes around actress Jeanette Loff and lands on her shoulder in a medi-

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um shot. This restoration is so good I can see a fly on the set! The amount of detail in that sequence, sourced from the original camera negative, made that musical number which had been my least favorite in the murky video version a spectacular revelation in beauty and subtle color design. I thought to myself; OK, now I get it! In Bing Crosby’s first sequence with “The Rhythm Boys”, they sing “So the Blue Birds and the Black Birds Got Together” (Music by Rhythm Boy and pianist Harry Barris with words by Billy Moll). I was floored at the detail never present before on video; the sense of the brightly colored fabric pattern on the big arm chair behind Bing. The metallic variegated metal leaf on the trim of the table behind Bing and next to the chair. Fellow Rhythm Boy Al Rinker’s shirt stud revealed a distinct subtle pattern never before known to be visible. It was just like standing there on the set while it was being filmed. I could go on and on with minute details of stunning beauty, but you must really see this for yourself. The “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Whiteman orchestra and Roy Bargy as the soloist is spectacular and alive. Exclusive to the Sacramento premiere event at the Tower Theatre February 22nd are special guests from Hollywood, some who worked on the restoration. They will address the audience with stories of their efforts. Band leader Don Neely of the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra of San Francisco will

chat with the crowd about Whiteman’s musical contributions. Members of the family of Jack Fulton, one of Whiteman’s trombone players who appears in the movie will be present talking briefly to the premiere audience about Fulton’s work with Whiteman at that time. As this benefits the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, you may bet there will be live music, too. Outside, in front of the theatre, the young men and women of the “Crescent Katz”, well known for monthly presentations of traditional jazz in places like “The Shady Lady” will perform for the arriving guests and passers-by beginning from 6:10pm to 6:50pm. The “Crescent Katz” are Patrick Skiffington, Greg Sabin, Justin Au, Brandon Au and Priscilla Ornelas. Inside the Tower’s largest auditorium of three, No. 1, more live music may be savored from the time the auditorium opens. The precise time for seating will be determined by the ending time of the movie showing there just before the 7pm time slot. Providing selections made popular by Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra inside the theatre will be the youthful, yet highly acclaimed Adam G. Swanson, noted pianist and authority of the popular song from ragtime to country-western swing. Mr. Swanson has also appeared at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center and is featured summers at the historic Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado. The Sacramento Traditional Jazz Foundation, an educational founda-

tion separate from the STJS which supports young musicians as they learn to master traditional jazz, will be purchasing premiere tickets to gift to young musicians in their programs enabling them to see, for free, the very music they study in its original context, enriching their musical education with this very special event on screen. This is your great opportunity to see and hear how this music was heard and performed in its original context in splendid color and remarkable sharpness. This gala Northern California Premiere of the restored“King of Jazz”, will be shown only once, at 7 p.m., Wednesday night, Feb. 22 at the Tower Theatre, Broadway at 16th Street. Free adjacent parking. Tickets are only available in advance at www.sacjazz. org for $25 per person. No tickets will be sold at the door. There will be one day where you may obtain tickets in person however, in order to avoid the online service charge. At the February meeting of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society held at the Elks Lodge #6 at Riverside and Florin Road in the Greenhaven neighborhood of Sacramento, February 12th, tickets will be available from 11-4pm, if online tickets have not sold out by that date. Only 250 seats remain available at the time of this writing. What a splendid occasion to dress up and have a gala night in support of The Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, or as the film’s original tag line proclaimed, “Once in a lifetime a picture like this!”

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A Day in the Life of a Palestinian Immigrant By StAcY GroW

A stay-at-home mother of three children, Sacramento area resident Nasreen F.’s life is currently filled with caring for her children and home. Born and raised near Jerusalem in a tight-knit community in Palestine, Nasreen exudes warmth and joy as she remembers her life back home. “Everyone knew everyone else. You might think of us as a third world country, but we had so much fun!” Every day, her family typically received 7-9 visitors at their home, a constant stream of camaraderie. Once, her family’s apartment complex was on lockdown for several weeks due to the Israeli occupation. Neighbors pulled chairs into a shared courtyard; cards and other games were played; food, favors, and necessary supplies were exchanged freely between households. This strong sense of community and interconnectedness are the things she now misses most. Her life changed forever when she was 23. She had her Business Degree and was working at a bank at the time. An acquaintance from the neighborhood grocery store set her up with a Palestinian man who had settled in America, but returned to his homeland to look for a bride. After their first encounter in front of Nasreen’s parents and 4 siblings, the couple got to know each other through a supervised courtship. She soon decided that “he was a good man,” and 4 months later, they were married. When she joined him in America, she didn’t know much English and how to drive a car. She was greeted with a large, empty house and no

friends or direct relatives. For several years, she toggled back and forth between Palestine and Sacramento, uncertain where she wanted to permanently settle. Eventually, she learned English and how to drive, and decided that she wanted to raise her family in America. She cites the opportunity for upwards career mobility here and the difficulty and dangers of living under occupation. Back in Palestine, life was constantly disrupted by locked checkpoints and violence.

Now, she keeps in touch with her family every day with Facetime and WhatsApp. She stays in touch with her culture by preparing the Palestinian foods she loves, such as maqlobh, a layered dish of cauliflower, eggplant, meat, and rice. Still, being a Muslim mother in America carries a degree of fear. She brings her 5-year-old son to the Masjid Annur Islamic Center in Sacramento for Sunday school every week, but chooses to walk around and wait 4 hours rather than leave

him here unattended. Her worries are twofold: that a “crazy white man” will attack the mosque, or that a “crazy Muslim extremist” might do the same. Indeed, just six months ago, a Muslim man was killed in front this mosque after attending Friday night prayer services. If there was one thing she would tell Americans about Muslims, she says it would be this: “We are all humans in the same community, which we need to build together and not destroy. What hurts one hurts all.”

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Chinese New Year: Continued from page 5

the Buddhist Church and the Camellia Parade among others. Additionally, Wong has volunteered for many years in schools such asCarolyn Wentzel Elementary and Kennedy High School where her children attended. At Wentzel she led a Chinese summer camp for kids where she taught the elements of the Chinese language and other cultural activities such as folk dances and games. At Kennedy in 1993-94, she started the Japanese language and the Mandarin Chinese language programs because none existed there at the time. Wong’s life-long work in dental health has led her to

donate her time and energy to helping immigrant families at community health clinics in the Bay Area and in Northern California. She said she thanks former President Obama for the Affordable Care Act that has provided insurance to so many people. Elizabeth Xiu Wong is a dynamic force in our community that reminds us that everyone should embrace their family culture brought with them when their families immigrated to the United States. Culture and ancestry bring a proud sense of self that carries through the development of character and responsibility in children. We owe this enrichment to our children and grandchildren.

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It’s in their Harts: Seniors share love stories at local senior center By Gavin Loveless and Monica Stark

go to Vietnam and I never heard from him again. I was editor@valcomnews.com pretty young. I was 21,” she said. “I know he didn’t die; The East Sacramento News he wasn’t on any of the lists.” ventured to the Hart Senior And since then, Mary hasn’t Center and spoke with a few had any interest in love. willing seniors regarding real life love stories that had major Flo Ware: “Charlie was a impacts on their lives. Many cowboy up in Wheatland. women refused to comment, Charlie loved people and he however, mentioning brief- was a cowboy and that was ly that their significant others sort of fun in itself. Also, returned from Vietnam nega- I had a son and he loved tively affected. At least one of my son. But unfortunatethe stories here has been edit- ly, Charlie died in a fiery ed down for space. crash. Charlie actually went to Vietnam and came back Mary Hamlett: “I thought and was very creative. He I was once (in love), but it was a dreamer. But he loved didn’t turn out very well. children. He loved me. He His name was Russell. I was blond, blue eyes. We went to a night club, and he went to high school, the last was there in the band. It was part. I mean I really love pop music. It was in a barn him. I love him today. When in Orange County that had you’re young 3, 4 years is been developed with hous- huge. I was a year younging tracks and the barn, had er than my whole class. He been converted into a night was smarter. I would write club. We went up and down him a letter like, ‘How are the beach. I practically lived you? Hope it’s good.’ I still on it. I always liked to swim.” have things that he wrote. I Russell and Mary weren’t have a poem that his mothtogether very long, “just a er wrote about a meadmonth or two and he had to ow up around Highway 49

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where his ashes were laid. We were young and he did die young, but he’s always with me. After 20 years and I still grieve. We are all older here and here I am telling you about a high school sweetheart. This is a sort of love letter for Charlie. Charlie Jenson was his name. When I answer the phone, his picture is right there. We’re pretty stuck.”

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From your Councilman, Rick Jennings

Hello February! Audrey Hepburn once said that the best thing to hold onto in life is each other. So, it is only fitting that this “month of love” is full of meetings and events focused on bringing our community together.

Join Vice Mayor Rick JenGain useful insights from exnings and staff to discuss mat- perts on crime prevention durters of importance to you and ing these free workshops proyour neighbors. vided by the Sacramento Police Department. Each training • NEIGHBORHOOD begins at 6:30 in the Hall of WATCH TRAINING Honor of the Freeport Blvd. AVAILABLE THROUGH Station at 5770 Freeport Blvd. THE SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT See Councilman, page 23

• COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT February 9, 8:30am Café Latte (7600 Greenhaven Drive, #1) Hang out with Superbowl Champ & Vice Mayor, Rick Jennings at one of our great neighborhood businesses! For more information or to host a Community SPOTlight at your local business, contact our office at 916-808-7007. • POCKET/GREENHAVEN COMMUNITY MEETING February 23, 6:00pm Robbie Waters PocketGreenhaven Library (7335 Gloria Drive)

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THURSDAY, FEB. 2 VIC’S ICE CREAM 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Vic’s Ice Cream will celebrate its 70th anniversary and will be rolling back some prices to 70 cents from Thursday, February 2nd through Sunday, February 5th. 3199 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818

FRIDAY, FEB. 3 DIABETES ACADEMY EDUCATIONAL SERIES: This is a series of classes dealing with diabetes. This class will be a discussion on life style modifications, motivation, stages of life changes and setting smart goals. Pre-registration required and free of charge. Class will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. at ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive. For more information, call 3939026 ext 330, www.accsv.org. ACC SENIOR SERVICES PRESENTS: PHOTO EDITING WITH PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS: This is a beginner’s class in the Photoshop Elements 11 and higher. Starting at 1:30 p.m., learn how to do basic light & color adjustment, crop and clone unwanted objects from your photos. During class session you can bring your old faded or stained B & W to restore. With PSE you can also organize and share photos on the internet. The new, easy-to-use editing options make editing easier than ever. For the advanced users, this new version has many of the advanced features as its big brother, Photoshop CS6, but at a fraction of the cost. For questions or to register for classes, please call (916) 393-9026 ext. 330. ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive, Sacramento, CA 95831

TUESDAY, FEB. 7 POP-UP BOOK SALE From 11am-5:30pm come on down to the Belle Cooledge Library to score some great books! The sale will be held at the entrance of the Belle Cooledge Library. All proceeds benefit Library programs. Held at 5600 South Land Park Drive.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8 PROM DRIVE (DONATIONS NEEDED) @ VARIOUS LIBRARIES: Bring your gently used formal wear, including dresses, suits, shoes, and other accessories to the library locations listed below during open hours. All sizes needed. Menswear especially encouraged. Donations will be distributed to teens in need at sched-

Pocket/Greenhaven?

uled programs to be held at different library locations throughout the Sacramento area. Donation Locations: •Arden-Dimick Library (891 Watt Ave., Sacramento) •Belle Cooledge Library (5600 South Land Park Drive) •McKinley Library (601 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento) •Robbie Waters Pocket–Greenhaven Library (7335 Gloria Drive) •South Natomas Library (2901 Truxel Road, Sacramento) •Sylvan Oaks Library (6700 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights)

MONDAY, FEB. 11 READ TO A DOG AT ROBBIE WATERS POCKET-GREENHAVEN LIBRARY: Looking for a way to boost school-age reading skills? Join us in the library’s Reading Tower area and practice reading out loud to a registered therapy dog (Marvin, the Wonder Corgi). Kids are invited to bring their own books or borrow one from our fabulous collection.

SUNDAY, FEB. 12 I HEART SACRAMENTO ZOO!: All ages welcome to this Valentine’s Day themed experience! Sacramento Zoo teens will provide games and activities for all participants. General admission is required and the event will last from 9am-4pm! 3930 West Land Park Drive, Sacramento.

MONDAY, FEB. 13 BOY SCOUT TROOP 259 (POCKET) FEBRUARY OPEN HOUSE: From 7 to 8 p.m., there will be an open house for Boy Scout Troop 259 at the Elks Lodge No. 6, 6446 Riverside Blvd. There will be fun, games, activities, demonstrations. See what they do. Do what they do. Bring a friend, and a parent.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25 THE MISSING KENNEDY WITH AUTHOR ELIZABETH KOEHLER-PENTAKOFF @ POCKET LIBRARY: Rosemary Kennedy was the least known child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy. Author Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff tells the story of Rosemary from a personal perspective and recalls the many memorable times spent with the missing Kennedy. It is an insightful, poignant memoir and shares a history of both tragedy and inspiration. Books will be avail-

able for sale and author signing at the program. This is a Go Read event.

ONGOING YOGA CLASSES AT PARKSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH: Svaroopa ©/Restorative Yoga classes are a journey into yourself. Beginning by walking through the door, settling in a relaxation pose, guided through self awareness, breathing and poses. The poses are propped to meet your deepest muscular tension. As the support of props, specific alignments and the weight of your body gently reach into these deep tender areas, your spinal muscles release and let go. Side affects of this deep release are Bliss, resolving stress and fear, and a deep appreciation of yourself. Physical effects that have been reported are pain relief, improved respiratory, circulatory, immune, neurological systems and more. Walking out of the class you feel a greater sense of wellbeing. This is a body, mind and spirit filled experience.Thursdays 9:15-11:15am beginning and 7:15-9:00pm advanced. Questions 916-833-9444. Hatha Yoga – breath, meditation, and postures with various forms of movement to help release tension throughout the entire mind and body. You’ll sweat a little, relax a lot, and leave feeling strong, calm and connected. *Hatha Flow is Level 1-2 class and is suitable for active beginner and intermediate students. Wear comfortable, form-fitting clothes. Questions, Call (718) 578-5258 or email: eva@evacollins.com Hatha Flow Classes Thursdays 5:45-7:00pm. All Classes held at Parkside Community Church Fellowship Hall 5700 South Land Park Drive; 916-428-7927. SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF SACRAMENTO SOUTH MEETING: The club welcomes women and girls to the club’s lunch meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. at the Aviators Restaurant, at Executive Airport, 6151 Freeport Blvd. WEDNESDAY COFFEE AND CONVERSATION GATHERING: Every Wednesday morning from 7 to 11 am., join neighbors at Caffe Latte, 7600 Greenhaven Drive, for conversation and fun. Find the group back near the piano. TEA DANCE: Every first Sunday of the month from 2 to 5 p.m, dance to the music of the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s, played by a live 16-member orchestra. A touch of class is yours for $8 at the Elks Lodge, No. 6, located at 6446 River-

side Blvd. That includes tea/coffee, crumpets, scones, cucumber sandwiches, and other delicacies to grace your afternoon experience. Enjoy quaint conversation and dance music. It’s a romantic chance to recapture the magic of the past and fall in love all over again. For tickets, contact the Lodge at 422-6666. ACC PRESENTS ‘BODY WISDOM BREATH AND MOVEMENT’: Perform easy to follow seated and standing exercises for health and well-being. Most movements are based on eastern techniques for relaxing and re-energizing the body. Use simple Qigong postures to stimulate vitalizing “Chi”. Discover the joy of self-massage and acupressure. Slow down with guided imagery and meditative breathwork. Improving your health and be simple and fun. Pre-registration and Pre-payment of $20 @ $5 per class required. $7 Drop-in rate per class. Class will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at ACC Senior Services, 1180 Corporate Way. For more details, call (916)393-9026 ext 330, www.accsv.org. ACC PRESENTS YOGA-NEW: This yoga class introduces the lyengar method of hatha yoga. Basic standing, sitting, forward extension, introductory inversion, and restorative postures will be taught. This class will build upon prior class and will use props to assist the students. You will need a yoga mat and possibly blocks, belts and blankets. Pre-payment is $6 per class or $8 drop-in rate. Pre-registration required. Class is now held from 7 to 7:30 p.m. at ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive. for more details, call (916)393-9026 ext 330. www.accsv.org BABY/TODDLER STORYTIME -- Babies and toddlers (ages 0 to 3 years) and their caretakers are invited to join us for songs and rhymes. Arrive early or stay late for extra social time with other children and parents. Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. at Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento. KNIT TOGETHER -- Love to knit? Want to learn? Join the library for expert advice, great conversation and more. All crafters are welcome--not just knitters! Every Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento.

For the love of nature First outdoor only preschool class to open in the Pocket’s Camellia Waldorf School By Michele Townsend

In September of 2017 Camellia Waldorf will be opening Wildflower Forest Preschool, one of the first of its kind in the Sacramento area, and will be in addition to the existing Desert Rose Preschool..Forest preschools originated in Europe in the early 1900s. The difference between the traditional preschool and forest preschool is that a forest preschool class has an outside only classroom. All learning materials are provided by nature. The children learn to notice, ap20

preciate and care for nature. They learn about the circle of life and how we all count on each other and should care for each other. Studies are showing that children that begin their educational journey in a forest school have significantly less emotional and deficit disorders, increased imagination and an easier time settling in and focusing when they are inside. It improves their balance (both physically and emotionally), reduces stress, improves agility and lowers obesity. Children that attend forest preschool are

Pocket News • February 3, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

also showing to have less educational “burnout”. Safety is first, of course, so if weather does not permit a safe adventure, the class will be held on school grounds. Additionally, if there is lightening, the

class will be held inside. The Wildflower preschool program will be take place in outside areas of the Waldorf campus, the riparian woodlands behind the school, and Garcia Bend City Park (lo-

cated a few blocks away from the school). The program will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to noon, for 3 year old See Nature, page 22 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Essay:

If I walked a mile in your shoes by James Peyton

Have you ever watched a horror movie, where the detectives walk in on a man standing over a body with a dripping knife? Wouldn’t you think he did it? Earlier in the movie, the man discovers his friend dead on the floor. Shocked, he picks up the knife and tries to figure out what is going on. Then, someone opens the door and he finds himself interrogated and arrested for murder. We know he didn’t do it, but does anyone believe him? No. After all, he wouldn’t have been picked up or be in court if he was innocent, would he? If you’ve ever been misunderstood, this article is for you. Maybe you are a Muslim and people are afraid of you, or treat you like a terrorist on a daily basis. Maybe you are Sikh, and people think you are Muslim. Maybe your entire family won’t talk to you anymore because you married a man instead of a woman. Perhaps you are pretty and people feel you can’t be intelligent. Maybe you are black and dress hip-hop, and are constantly getting pulled over by the Police. People would rather write you off than take a chance on you. Perhaps people pick on you because you have glasses and talk about Minecraft instead of the NBA and the NFL. Maybe you’re a reformed ex-con who loses a job every time an employer finds out about your past. Perhaps you’ve been burnt or are in a wheelchair, and people don’t treat you like an equal, rather more like a child. Perhaps people won’t look you in the eye. It could be the case that you are very old and people talk about you right in front of you, without ever talking TO you. Maybe people have taught their children to hate you. It’s possible that you are short, and people won’t take you seriously. They pick you last when they pick a team for a basketball game. Perhaps your parents pressure you to be perfect, rather than to be a person. Or it could be that ladies call you a stalker when you try to Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

talk to them, but when a tall, handsome guy comes along and says the same thing you just said, .. they treat him like a normal guy. Or you’re one of those guys that glances over at a girl, and finds she had a dirty look waiting for you before you even looked. Maybe you’ve got a thick accent and people don’t understand what you’re trying to say. You could be a youth getting bullied at school, right under a “bully-free zone” sign in the cafeteria. Maybe you have OCD, or compulsions to repeat behaviors, color co-ordinate things obsessively, or re-write pages of notes redundantly because they look messy. Maybe you are forgotten in a care home, and your parents never come to visit you. Maybe you have a woman living with you, that checks into your phone every time you come home from work. Maybe you have a room-mate that threatens you, doesn’t pay rent, and eats up your food. Maybe you are the neglected child in the family, and all the attention goes to your brother and sister. Maybe you know when you go to work, your wife’s in a parking lot with another man. Maybe your kids were taken away from you for an illegitimate reason. You got a beard and people think you’re a drug dealer, right? It doesn’t matter if you’ve never smoked or drank, or dealt... your whole life. Maybe rich people have snubbed you because you are poor. Maybe you don’t have a perfect Facebook life. Maybe you realize that your friends or co-workers will never change the way they see you as long as you live. Even though you’ve tried so hard to show them, so hard to prove that you are different than their labels. People grow, mature and sometimes even change for the better. But to your labelers, you will ALWAYS be stuck in the past, as they saw you back then. Even if you move on past the negativity, you may be surprised that for them, it’s always still there whenever they see you. If you look a certain way, you ARE a certain way in some

people’s viewpoint. This kind of close-mindedness runs rampant in our society. The forces of conformity are often unspoken and unwritten, yet still powerful. I remember a young man who tattooed “Don’t Forget To Love Yourself ” on his chest. Maybe you’ve done that, maybe you don’t feel you deserve to be loved. Maybe you wear black clothes a lot, maybe you’re a cutter. Perhaps the only one you really care about hates you, and left you for dead. In the words of Eddie Griffin, “Whatever happened to a girl falling in love with a n&*@# with a bus pass? Maybe people say you don’t smile enough, and they don’t know that someone recently died in your family. Maybe people get on you for being grumpy or negative, and they don’t know that SEV-

ERAL people recently died in your family. Maybe you were abused as a child or as an adult. Maybe your mom chased you around the house with butcher knives as a teenager. We have to try and forgive those we feel have wronged us, let it go, and move on. One person told me that they could never forgive their mother for what she did to them. I can understand that. Perhaps your life is worse than most of the things mentioned in this article, there’s always something worse. But where we can, at least, we have to try. We have to strive for caring, compassion, and kindness. From childhood to adulthood, I attended an AfricanAmerican church. I remember the song we sang, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” Many of us are misunderstood. We had neg-

ative experiences in life. Perhaps we think negatively as a result, perhaps we ARE negative. None of us are perfect, we all make mistakes. In order to overcome obstacles, and make things better, we have to have that light in us. But it’s not enough just to have it, we must cultivate it. We have to practice growing it, just like you have to practice to get better at handwriting, basketball, communicating with people, being effective at your job, or building a fence. Maybe you feel like nobody loves you. Maybe you feel like you’re just not worth it to anybody. Well, even if I don’t give you a dollar, and I won’t give you a ride, I love you! You are worth it. You are human. Like Rocky Balboa said, “Hey little Marie! Let there be light! Let there be LIGHT!”

www.valcomnews.com • February 3, 2017 • Pocket News

Nature

Continued from page 20

children who are fully potty trained. Only 12 people will be accepted. Applications are now being accepted for fall. There aren’t a lot of topics that you can find mass numbers of people to agree on, but the idea that people (especially children) learn and retain information better when they are interested in what they are doing and having fun learning it, might be one of the topics that may just fall into that category. In 1919 the first Waldorf School was created in Germany, and their entire curriculum as well as their format for learning, was designed with this idea in mind. In addition, the developmental stages, and physiological changes and capacity for learning are key in the way the children are taught. Infants and young children are constantly learning about their surroundings by the use

of their senses such as feeling textures with their hands, feet and mouths. They also learn by imitation, and as they grow and begin to develop their imagination, playing games such as “dress up” allows them to become moms and dads or kings and queens, These may just sound like childhood games, but in a Waldorf School these childhood games are a learning time. It is during the time that the child is the king that he is taught fairness, and respect. When a little girl is being a mommy, she may be learning patience. These may not sound like school lessons, but Waldorf Schools believe that these are fundamental parts of a child’s growth and an important part of developing a well rounded, caring, productive member of a community. All students spend a lot of time learning outside! Rain or shine, there is something to learn about. The preschool class spends almost the entire

day outside. The older kids still go outside, but the lessons grow with the children. Now, they may be in the “forest” they played in, but this time they are learning about Astrology. Camellia Waldorf School is not new to the area. Established in Sacramento in 1989, the school was formerly housed in an old strip mall on Freeport Boulevard near Executive Airport. Little by little the staff, students and families built up the old school. In addition to parents building furniture, or painting or other various tasks that were needed, items such as old tree stumps were donated to the school and became a part of the playground, or some other creative use. Everything they had they received or built with love, and everything had a story. When the former landlord was no longer interested in housing the school, everyone affiliated with the school feared the school might have to close. Luckily, one of the parent’s is a realtor, and they found an empty building that used to be a small, private school. The problem was that this building had been vacant for a couple of years and had been severely vandalized. The owners of this potential new home are wonderful and loving people that loved the idea of having the children bring life back into the property. But

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what about the cost of the repairs!? The fire extinguishers were all empty, and used to bash giant holes in the walls. Windows were broken. The list went on and on. The cost would surely be more than what either party could handle. However, the families, students and staff of this school are a big family. This challenge was no exception. Everyone got to work on the new place. With only a couple of months to complete the work AND move in, it would take everyone to pitch in. And they did! Parents patched walls, fixed broken fixtures, painted the top half of the walls while the kids painted the bottom half. Small kids broke down boxes, or took things to the trash. Everyone pitched in. Then one day, the owner and his wife came in. They were greeted with hand shakes, thank you’s and hugs, from all of the tired but excited families. They were so touched, that they decided to sell the property to the school, and made arrangements that would allowed the school to be able to do so! When you walk into Camellia Waldorf, it doesn’t matter what the age of the person, that person is very proud of their school. They took out the old playground and replaced it with a garden. When they brought over the furniture from the old to the new location, it included the logs, the bails of hay, and the big rocks. The class rooms have old wooded desks, rocking chairs, and black boards. It has the look and feel of walking into a Norman Rockwell picture, or an old child’s folklore book. Near the back door are rain boots, rain coats and little shovels. The playground is fenced in, and unseen from the road. It has a big wooden swing set, that parents built. But the best part is that there

are rocks, bails of hay, a wooden bridge, rabbits, chickens, flower beds and a bunch of kids rearranging those items in order to build the ship, or house, or cave that they need for the game they are playing. School however is where our children need to learn! So, how about their work? Are they grade proficient? Will they be ready to enter into high school when they complete the 8th grade if they are not following the same guidelines that everyone else has to follow? They don’t even have text books! They do however make their own text books throughout the year that are laminated and bound for the students to keep. The quality of the work done in these books (by each student) is advanced enough that they are usually able to be used as a reference in future projects that the students do in High school. Remember, as the children have matured they have studied many of the same topics several different times, but each time they revisited the subject, it was at a new level of experience. There are more than 1,000 Waldorf schools in over 50 countries. In North America there are over 190 schools associated with Waldorf. No two schools are identical, because each one is administratively independent. If you would like further information, or would like to see what an amazing little place this is, I truly encourage you to stop in! Camellia Waldorf School is located at 7450 Pocket Road, Sacramento CA 95831. Or check out their website, camelliawaldorf.org. You can also give Principal Ardyth Sokoler a call at 916427-5022. Camellia Waldorf will be holding their annual fundraiser in West Sacramento, in March. Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Councilman: Continued from page 17

(unless otherwise indicated below). For more information about any of these trainings or to schedule a similar training for your own community, contact Barbara Falcon at mfalcon@sp.cityofsacramento.org. • Wednesday, February 1st: Neighborhood Watch 101 • Wednesday, February 8th: Scams and Schemes • Monday, February 20th: Neighborhood Development at Transitions (at 3647 40th Street) • Wednesday, February 22nd: Reporting Code Enforcement and Crime • FREE TAX PREPARATION There are two easy ways to file your taxes: In Person

with an IRS-certified volunteer income tax preparer if your household income was $54,000 or less in 2016, or Online at MyFreeTaxes.com if your household income was $64,000 or less in 2016. For scheduling or additional information, visit YourLocalUnitedWay.org/VITASites or call 21-1 or 916-498-1000. Brought to you by Capital Region VITA Coalition and United Way California Capital Region. And…don’t forget our ongoing events and opportunities: • SOUTH SACRAMENTO YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2nd Wednesdays, 6-8pm Sam and Bonnie Pannell Community Center We’re calling for all our young leaders that are ready

to make a difference in the community. Food will be provided! For more information, contact Casanya at cursery@cityofsacramento.org. • STAND UP TO FALLS Have you fallen in the last year? It’s not too late to start the new year off right by taking part in the City’s “Stand Up To Falls” fall risk assessment program. Stop by the Hart Senior Center or call 916-808-1593 to schedule your FREE personal fall risk assessment. It’ll be the best 20-minute investment for your future fall-free life!

CalBRE# 00692245

Do you have an upcoming event that you’d like to see included in our weekly e-newsletter or social media blasts? Let us know about your events or programs by emailing the details to cursery@cityofsacramento.org.

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